Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
She studies me for a moment, squinting as she takes the time to really look at me.
My closet back home is filled with designer labels, but I didn’t bring any of it when I left. These days, my clothes are more for comfort than style. And while we’re not dressed dissimilarly, I still feel out of place under her scrutinizing gaze.
Finally, she nods. “Sweet.” She eyes the two bags on the floor. “Do you need help bringing the rest of your stuff up?”
I swallow roughly. “Um, no. I... this is pretty much it.”
Silence descends with me sitting awkwardly on the bed while she stands in the doorway. Oddly enough, it’s a comfortable silence—the kind you’d expect to exist between lifelong friends, not virtual strangers.
“Well, what are you doing then?” she asks, intentionally not commenting on my lack of worldly possessions.
“The tech center. I need to, uh, go there and get my student ID card.”
Her glossy peach lips tip up. “Perfect. Me, too. Let’s go!” Before I can refuse, Stella crosses the small space, wraps her fingers around my wrist, and hauls me up from the bed. “C’mon, we can grab a bite to eat after.”
After spending so much time ostracized and the butt of everyone’s jokes, having someone actually want to spend time with me feels foreign. However, I’m so tired of being alone, and if Stella wants to be friendly toward me, I’m certainly not going to stop her.
Here’s to hoping it doesn’t blow up in my face.
I manage to grab my messenger bag from the floor as Stella drags me out of my room. “So, where are you from?” she asks.
“Texas.”
Stella lets out a low whistle as we step into the hallway. “Long way from home. Won’t you miss your family?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say no, but such an honest reply will only invite questions I have no intention, much less desire, to answer. “I’ll manage,” I say instead.
“You’re stronger than me. I’ve lived here in Central Valley for my entire life. My parents literally live like five minutes away.”
“Then why are you living on campus?” I ask before I can think better of it. Great. Now she probably thinks I’m rude.
Instead of snapping at me, she laughs and shrugs before punching the button to summon the elevator. “Wanted the full college experience. These are supposed to be the best years of our lives, right?”
“That’s what they say.” I step into the elevator behind her, wishing like hell I wasn’t so rusty in social situations.
Stella grins and hits the button for the ground floor. “I think I’m gonna like you, roomie. I really do.”
Much to my surprise, I find myself grinning right back at her. With Stella at my side, maybe Central Valley really will be my fresh start after all.
Chapter Three
Emmy
“Oh my God.” Stella cackles. “At least you’re smiling in your picture. I look like I’m constipated!”
She waves her freshly printed badge in my face to prove her point.
I try to hold in my laughter, but it is a fruitless pursuit. “You really do.”
“Shut up!” She elbows me as we meander down the sidewalk. “Food?”
“Sure, but we better skip anything with cheese.”
It takes a second for my words to click, but as they do, Stella doubles over laughing. “Oh my God!” she wheezes.
“Are you okay?” I ask, awkwardly patting her back.
She springs up, dislodging my hand from her. “I am amazing. Especially now that I know you have a sense of humor under all that doom-and-gloom.”
“Whatever,” I mumble under my breath.
“Hey, chill.” Stella’s laughter dies off. “I meant no offense. It’s normal to be a little in your feels girl. You just moved like five states away to attend college. You’re allowed to be sad and shit. I’d probably cry forever if I moved away from my family.”
“Nah, you’d be fine.”
“What makes you say that?” Stella asks, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
Despite the burning in my cheeks, I shrug. “I don’t know. You just seem... strong.”
“I’m glad you think so. Some days, I think—” She shakes her head, clearing away the clouds that were creeping into her pretty blue eyes. “Never mind. You wanna go to Target and get pretzels and Icees?”
Stella’s transparent in her deflection, but I’d be the pot calling the kettle black if I were to say anything, so instead, I resume walking and say, “Most definitely.”
“Do you drive?” she asks before slapping her palm to her forehead. “Blonde moment! It’s not like you teleported from Texas.”
“We all have them,” I assure her, twisting a lock of my dark brown hair that’s escaped my braid around my fingers. “Even those of us on the dark side.”
“You’re cool driving us, though?”
“Yup. I’m in the lot in front of the dorm.”
Like an unwanted companion, anxiety churns in my gut as we near the parking lot. Stella seems cool, but what if she’s the kind of girl who will think less of me because my car is out of date?